The Window

A long long time ago the Jansens came over to ring in the New Year a day late. The night was absolutely, 100% thread worthy but I drank WAY too much, even by my standards and was out of commission the next day. That's not usually too big a deal, but my family was coming in from AZ the following day, lots to get ready for. This too wouldn't be a big deal but my sister and I got really really sick (like stomach bug, not from drinking too much), and the thought of rethinking a night of mass wine consumption didn't sound too good. So, in hindsight, I should've cranked out a blogpost in that small time frame, hungover or not. I learned 3 things then.

A January 1st visit meant me not watching a down of the Rose Bowl or Orange Bowl for the first time since I was maybe 4, but instead did some of this

then this

This calls for the bubblay!
Yes, that's our next door neighbor's indoor pool.

We did the unusual usual app round

2 goat cheese spreads, prosciutto wrapped cantaloupe, Bass Lake 7 year aged cheddar that Tom smuggled back from Wisconsin, a black pepper asiago and an aged gouda with carmel & chocolate finish, both smuggled back from Bagliani's Italian market in Hammonton, NJ. Good stuff.

See, we're all really happy. It was delicious.

The grown ups chased it all down with this. It too was really good. 

We then entered the Pinot round. In a game time decision, I opted out of the Black Kite to try the 2011 Belle Glos Clark & Telephone next to the 2010 version.

The 2010 was the unanimous winner.

*Purpletooth is in no way suggesting that the 2010 Belle Gloss Clark & Telephone Pinot Noir is on or infused with performance enhancing drugs.

But it wasn't even close.

I'd rank the Pinot round like this
1. 2010 Belle Glos C&T: A+ (yeah, I went there. I love this wine)
2. 2011 Belle Glos C&T: A-
3. 2011 Meiomi: B+ (and at < $17. Huge value!!!)
4. 2009 Anaba Gap's Crown Vineyard: B-

Twas then onto dinner, which I have no food pictures of, just happy faces.

This proves we enjoyed a garlic & wine tri-tip with homemade mac n' cheese and a caprese salad that we washed down with 

Doffo 2010 Zinfandel

and

Baldacci 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon

Aside from not procrastinating special occasion blog posts, we (well, Tom and I) agree that we didn't really get to enjoy the final wines of the night. Thus, lesson #2, less wine next New Years Eve. Quality over quantity, not that there was a lack of quality...

Lesson #3, Beth's eggplant parm and wine are much more enjoyable going down than up. I haven't had a sip of vino in 2+ weeks. That's gotta be a record for me. I'm hoping to get back that loving feeling. Perhaps this post is a step in that direction. 

Happy belated New Year!